Bellemare is Flyers' Masterton nominee; Mason starting vs. Senators

Center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was named the Flyers' Masterton Trophy nominee by the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association on Tuesday.

The Masterton is presented each year by the NHL to the player who "best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.''

Past winners from the Flyers: Bobby Clarke, Tim Kerr, and Ian Laperriere.

"You don't work to try to get those kind of rewards," Bellemare said after Tuesday's morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center. You work "to be as helpful to the team in any way possible. ... But it sure is nice when somebody notices the work you're doing."

It has been a whirlwind month for Bellemare, who received the "A" as an alternate captain shortly after Mark Streit was traded; the day before he was given the "A," Bellemare signed a two-year contract extension for a total of $2.9 million.

Bellemare, 32, who grew up in France, didn't reach the NHL until he was 29 and is the definition of perseverance.

"It wasn't the usual type of NHL journey," Bellemare said. "But it doesn't feel like you are working when you are enjoying what you are doing. ... I don't consider it perseverance what I'm doing. I mean, I'm playing hockey. I work my whole life for it, and that late (in his career), I get to the best league in the world. It's not perseverance to come every morning to do your job, do your routine, and try to be ready for practice. It's been only fun, quite frankly."

Right winger Wayne Simmonds said Bellemare was a deserving nominee.

"When you talk about Belly, the first thing is his work ethic," Simmonds said. "He's a complete professional. He battled his way into this league, and he continues every day to be one of the hardest workers on the ice."

"Belly embodies all the characteristics and traits of a Flyer,'' coach Dave Hakstol said.

Steve Mason will be in the nets against visiting Ottawa on Tuesday. The Flyers are six points out of a playoff spot with seven games left. "We're in a position where we know what we have to do, and we can't focus on what other teams are doing," Mason said. "Go out there and play the game of hockey and have fun and put forth a good effort. The guys still have to understand we're still in this and we have to play with a lot of pride and a lot of effort and see what happens." ... Nick Cousins, who wasn't on the four-game road trip because of an apparent concussion, took part in the morning skate but is not ready to return. ... The Flyers will use the same lineup that defeated Pittsburgh, 6-2, on Sunday.